Obesity occurs when the body consumes more energy than it requires and uses less energy, resulting in the accumulation of fat, which increases the number and size of fat cells in the body. It causes high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and joint crowding, making it difficult to fully treat. We investigated the effects of chito oligosaccharide(CHO) functional material, which suppresses fat accumulation, restores dyslipidemia values, and has no side effects.In this study, we investigated the ameliorative effects of CHO on obese mice fed a high-fat diet. The experimental groups were divided into 5 groups (n=10) of C57BL/6 mice: normal control (N), control group (C), and chito oligosaccharide low concentration (L), medium concentration (M), and high concentration (H) groups. We tested whether CHO has an effect on obesity through body weight and adipose tissue weighing, serum lipid testing, and histological examination. Experimental analysis showed that CHO reduced body weight and adipose tissue weight, improved the concentrations of TCHO, TG, HDL, and LDL, which are factors for dyslipidemia diagnosis, and decreased the diameter size of adipose tissue. These results suggest that CHO alleviates the levels of fat growth inhibition and dyslipidemia levels in obese-induced mice, and has a positive effect on obesity.

PPARα activator가 고지방 사료를 섭취한 운동하지 않은 쥐에 비해 고지방 사료를 섭취한 운 동 쥐에서 백색지방조직의 혈관신생을 보다 효과적으로 억제하는지를 조사하였다. 수컷 쥐는 무작위로 PPARα activator인 fenofibrate와 운동을 모두 처리하지 않은 대조군(Con), fenofibrate 단독처리군(FF), 운동 단독처리군(Ex) 및 fenofibrate와 운동의 조합처리군(Ex+FF)으로 나누어 8주간 고지방 사료를 섭취시 켰다. 백색지방조직의 무게와 백색지방세포의 크기는 Con에 비해 FF, Ex 및 Ex+FF 모두 감소하였으며, Ex+FF는 FF에 비해 더욱 감소하였다. 백색지방조직에서 MMPs와 혈관신생 인자의 유전자 발현은 Con에 비해 FF, Ex 및 Ex+FF 모두 감소하였으며, Ex+FF는 FF에 비해 더욱 감소하였다. 그러나 혈관신생 억제인 자의 유전자 발현은 Con에 비해 FF, Ex 및 Ex+FF 모두 증가하였고, Ex+FF는 FF에 비해 더욱 증가하였 다. 따라서 본 연구는 fenofibrate 단독처리보다는 fenofibrate와 운동의 조합처리가 효과적으로 백색지방조 직의 혈관신생을 억제함으로써 백색지방조직의 증가를 감소시키고 복부비만을 억제한다는 것을 밝혔다.

This study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effect of adding Wolfiporia extensa Ginns (W) to fermented pollack skin products in an obesity-induced animal model. The experimental groups were the normal diet group (C), high-fat diet group (HF), dried pollack skin (H1), fermented pollack skin (H2), and W of 0.1 (F2-WL), 0.3 (F2-WM), and 0.5 (F2), respectively. It was confirmed that adding W to fermented pollack skin reduced blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL levels, while increasing HDL levels. Wolfiporia extensa Ginns was effective in controlling weight and improving blood lipids in a dose-dependent manner. In histological analysis, findings of fatty liver induced by a high-fat diet were improved by the addition of H2 and W. Size and density of fat globules in the epididymis were decreased. In addition, the concentration of TNF-α was increased in the high-fat diet group, but decreased by the addition of fermented pollack skin and W. In conclusion, adding fermented dried pollack skin and Wolfiporia extensa Ginns was effective for weight control and blood lipid improvement. Thus, the use of by-products in functional foods is expected to have a high value in the future.

This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of Coriandrum sativum L. ethanol extracts in a high fat diet-induced obesity model (DIO). We confirmed the anti-obesity effects by analysing the expression of the related proteins, weight gain, dietary intake, dietary efficiency, blood biochemistry, histological analysis and western blot analysis. After oral administration of Coriandrum sativum L. ethanol extracts at concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/kg, a significant improvement in dietary efficiency, reduction in weight gain, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in blood lipid was observed for 8 weeks. In addition, improvement in blood glucose and metabolism confirmed through glucose tolerance test was observed. Further, the concentration of alanine transaminase (ALT) in blood was significantly decreased, which improved the fatty liver caused by high-fat diet intake as confirmed by liver tissue analysis. This phenomenon was confirmed to decrease the expression of fat accumulation-related PPARγ and FAS protein in the liver tissue. Especially, it is believed that FAS, a liposynthetic enzyme, has a stronger inhibitory effect than PPARγ. Therefore, Coriandrum sativum L. ethanol extract is thought to improve obesity by reducing blood lipids levels, improving glucose metabolism and inhibiting synthesis of the fat that accumulates in the liver in high-fat diet-induced obesity animal models.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is known to contribute to the modulation of insulin resistance and systemic inflammation seen in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The present study was performed to investigate the fertility competence of TLR4 knock out male mice (TLR4 mice) on a high-fat diet (HFD), compared to a normal-chow diet (NCD). The controls included wildtype (WT) mice fed on a HFD or NCD. Six-week-old male mice were fed with either a NCD or HFD for 20 weeks. Body and organ weights, serum levels of glucose, triglycerides and hepatoxicity, sperm quality and spermatogenesis were observed after the sacrifice. Also, randomly selected male mice were mated with virgin female mice after feeding of 19 weeks. The weight of the body and organs increased in WT and TLR4 mice on a HFD compared to those of mice on a NCD. The weights of the reproductive organs did not vary among the treatment groups. The motility and concentration of the epididymal spermatozoa decreased in both WT and TLR4 mice fed a HFD. The pregnancy rate and litter size declined in the HFD-fed WT mice compared to the HFD-fed TLR4 mice. In conclusion, the HFD alters energy and steroid metabolism in mice, which may lead to male reproductive disorders. However, fertility competence was somewhat restored in HFD-fed TLR4 male mice, suggesting that the TLR4 is involved in testis dysfunction due to metabolic imbalance.

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), the most conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent protein deacetylase, is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, genomic stability, and development. SIRT1 knockout (SIRT1) mice exhibit decreased energy expenditure and hypersensitivity to a high-fat diet (HFD). SIRT1 deficiency in the testis has also been shown to cause male infertility in animal models. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the alteration of the testicular function of SIRT1 mice on HFD. Six-week-old mice were fed ad libitum as wild type (WT) and SIRT1 male mice with either a control diet or with HFD for 32 weeks and then were sacrificed. The levels of biomarkers for hepatotoxicity, sex hormones, and cytokines were analyzed in the serum and blood-testis barrier, and the sperm morphology was examined in the testis and epididymal spermatozoa. Interestingly, an enlargement of seminal vesicles was observed in the SIRT1 mice fed with HFD. A significantly higher level of hepatotoxicity was also seen in these mice. The concentration of serum testosterone increased in HFD-fed SIRT1 mice compared to the controls. The levels of interleukin-1β and TNF-α increased in both HFD-fed WT and SIRT1 mice. In RT-PCR, the m RNA expression of tight junction protein 2 and claudin 3 significantly decreased in HFD-fed SIRT1 compared to those of the controls. Degenerative spermatocytes and spermatids were detected in the HFD-fed SIRT1 mice testicular section. Sperm motility decreased in WT and SIRT1 with HFD feeding, and sperm concentration decreased significantly in WT-HFD and SIRT1 mice with or without HFD feeding. Taken together, HFD can alter energy and steroid metabolism in SIRT1-deficient mice, which can lead to imbalances in motility and production of sperm and testosterone that can result in male reproductive disorders.

이상의 결과를 종합하면, 혼합유산균 2종(Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. Lactis Bf141와 Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lb102)의 섭취는 고지방식이 유도 비만 마우스에서 체중, 체지방, 제지방, 골밀도 등 주요 체성분에 영향을 주지 않았다. 혼합유산균은 식욕 조절 효과를 위해 측정한 사료 섭취량에도 영향을 주지 않았으며, 간 조직 무게에도 영향을 미치지 않았다. 인슐린저항성과 포도당신생합성의 주요 지표인 공복혈당량 또한 혼합유산균 급여에 의해 변화 하지 않았다. 또한 혼합유산균은 심혈관질환의 지표로 사용되는 혈중 중성지방 및 총 콜레스테롤에 영향을 주지 않았으며, 체내 지방의 소화 및 흡수율에서도 영향을 미치지 않았다. 결론적으로, 고지방식이유도 비만 마우스를 이용하여 혼합유산균(Bf141 + Lb102)의 항비만 생리활성 을 검증한 결과, 유의미한 물리적, 대사적 표현형 개선은 검증되지 않았다. 따라서, 추후 개별 보다 다양한 혼합 조건 및 농도로 연구를 설계하여 혼합유산균의 항비만 효과를 검증할 필요성이 있다.

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effect of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus After inducing obesity by feeding hight fat diet (diet induced obesity model: DIO) for four weeks, each 8 rats were assigned to normal (Nor), high fat diet (HF), high fat diet containing orlistat (PC), high fat diet containing different concentration of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus (UPDM_L, UPDM_H) and Discorea Japonica Thunb. (UPD) extract. Although the UPD, UPDM_L (ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 400 mg/kg) and UPDM_H (DIO oral administration ultrafine pulverized Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus: 800 mg/kg) showed weight gain inhibition effects, the results of poor obesity inhibition rather than PC were confirmed. However, it showed a more effective weight loss effect in UPDM_H than UPD, and significantly reduced the weight of epididymal fat and subcutaneous fat. Furthermore, the possibility of anti-obesity effects of Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be confirmed by observing the effects of reducing serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL concentrations, reducing ALT and AST levels, and inhibiting fat build-up in liver tissue. It is believed that Discorea Japonica Thunb. fermented with Monascus can be expected to utilize as a functional material that is important to improve anti-obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The present study is designed to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of the hot-water extract from the leaves of Dendropanax morbifera L. (DMWE) in hyperlipidemic rats. Thirty male 5-week-old rats were grouped as follows: Normal control (NC) given distilled water; hyperlipidemic control (HC) administered with distilled water; drug treatment (DT) orally administered with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight (BW)); DMWE-treated groups (DM-50, DM-100 and DM-200) treated with DMWE 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg BW, respectively. All groups (except for NC) were fed a high-fat diet during the experiment. After 4 weeks of administration, the BW of all groups treated with DMWEs significantly increased compared to that of HC (p<0.05) and showed no significant difference compared to that of NC. In addition, serum total cholesterol levels in all groups treated with DMWEs were meaningfully decreased, compared to that in HC (p<0.05). In serum triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, both DM-100 and DM-200 considerably decreased compared to HC (p<0.05), and no significant differences in TG levels were between DM-100 and DM-200. In high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, DM-200 was statistically different compared to HC, and there were no significant differences between DM-100, DM-200 and DT. Furthermore, aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations of DM-100 and DM-200 were significantly decreased compared to those of HC (p<0.05). From results portrayed above, DMWE at the concentration of 100 mg/kg BW has been identified to be effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemic rats.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of administering dietary tomato powder (TP; 1, 5, and 10%) to mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity for 12 weeks. The TP used in this study was prepared using unmarketable tomatoes. Male C57BL/6J mice (n=60) were randomly divided into five groups, namely, CON, mice fed a basal diet (10% fat); HFD, mice fed HFD (60% fat); HFD+TP1, mice fed HFD (60% fat) supplemented with 1% TP; HFD+TP5, mice fed HFD (60% fat) supplemented with 5% TP; HFD+TP10, mice fed HFD (60% fat) supplemented with 10% TP. The HFD+TP10 group showed lower final body weight (34.23 g) than the HFD group (39.41 g), along with decreased epididymal fat weight (p<0.05). In addition, the HFD+TP10 group showed significantly lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride contents (136.32 and 33.20 mg/dL, respectively) that the HFD group (175.68 and 59.52 mg/dL, respectively). Increased serum leptin and insulin levels (66.36 and 1.80 ng/mL, respectively) in mice with HFD-induced obesity could be rescued in mice fed HFD supplemented with 10% TP (35.94 and 1.23 ng/mL, respectively). Additionally, the epididymal fat content and hepatic steatosis area showed a dose-dependent decrease with increase in dietary TP supplementation. The anti-obesity effect of 10% TP was linked to reduced serum trimethylamine-N-oxide levels. These results suggested that 10% TP was effective at inhibiting the accumulation of fat in the serum and tissue, and ameliorating lipid metabolism disorders observed in HFD-fed mice. In addition, such utilization of unmarketable tomato to inhibit obesity-associated pathologies is expected to add value and increase profits in the functional food industry.

꽃송이버섯의 자실체가 고지방과 고콜레스테롤을 급여 한 Sprague-Dawley계 암컷 흰쥐의 지질대사와 비만에 미치는 효과를 조사하기 위해 생후 6주령의 흰쥐에 정상 식이를 급여한 군(ND), 정상 식이에 20%의 돈지(Lard)와 1%의 콜레스테롤을 첨가하여 급여한 군(HFD), HFD 식이에 꽃송이버섯 자실체 분말을 5% 수준으로 첨가하여 급여한 군(HFD+SL), HFD 식이에 simvastatin을 0.3% 수준으로 첨가하여 급여한 군(HFD+SS) 등 4개의 실험군으로 나누어 6주간 실험을 진행하였다. 각각의 실험군 간 체중의 증가율은 HFD+SL군과 HFD+SS군이 HFD군에 비해 유의하게 감소하여 ND군와 유사한 수준을 나타내 HFD 식이에 꽃송이버섯을 첨가하여 급여한 HFD+SL군의 비만이 억제되었다. ND군의 식이섭취량은 HFD군에 비해 유의하게 높았고 HFD+SL군과 HFD+SS군에 비해서는 고도로 유의하게 높았다. 혈청 총콜레스테롤(TC), 저밀도지단백질 콜레스테롤(LDL-C) 및 중성지방(TG)의 농도는 HFD군에 비해 ND군, HFD+SL군 및 HFD+SS군이 유의하게 낮았다. 심혈관계 질환의 위험도를 나타내는 동맥경화지수(AI)와 LDL-C/HDL-C 비율도 HFD군에 비해 ND군, HFD+SL군 및 HFD+SS군이 유의하게 낮아 꽃송이버섯 자실체의 급여가 심혈관계 질환의 발생 위험도를 낮출 수 있은 것으로 나타났다. 알부민, 크레아티닌, 요산 및 총단백질의 농도는 모든 실험군 간 정상적인 수치를 나타냈으나 혈당 농도는 HFD군에 비해 ND군, HFD+SL군, HFD+SS군 모두 유의하게 낮아 꽃송이버섯이 혈당을 낮추는 효과가 있었다. 간 기능 손상의 척도를 나타내는 AST와 ALT 효소의 활성은 모든 실험군 간 유의성은 없었으나 ALP 효소의 농도는 HFD에 비해 ND군 와 HFD+SL군 및 HFD+SS군이 유의하게 낮아 꽃송이버섯을 첨가한 식이의 급여가 흰쥐의 ALP 농도를 유의하게 낮추는 효과가 있었다. 실험 5주와 6주 사이에 배출된 분변의 총 지질과 콜레스테롤의 양을 측정한 결과 HFD+SL 군이 배출한 총 지질과 콜레스테롤의 양이 HFD군과 HFD+SS군에 비해 유의하게 높게 나타나 HFD식이에 함유된 일부의 지질과 콜레스테롤이 꽃송이버섯에 의해 장 내로 흡수되지 않고 분변으로 배출된 것으로 나타났다. 각각의 실험군의 간 조직을 적출하여 oil red O로 염색하고 현미경으로 관찰한 결과 HFD군에서는 심한 지방간이 관찰되었으나 HFD+SS군은 ND군과 같이 지방간이 전혀 관찰되지 않았고 HFD+SL군의 간 조직에서는 소량의 지방 방울이 관찰되어 꽃송이버섯의 자실체에는 비알코올성 지방간을 억제하는 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 꽃송이버섯 자실체는 고지방과 고콜레스테롤 식이 섭취로 인해 발생하는 체중증가, 혈청의 콜레스테롤과 중성지방 농도 및 비알코올성 지방간의 개선에 효과가 있어 심혈관계 질환과 비만의 예방과 치료에 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of high-oleate and normal-oleate peanut consumption on adipose mass and serum lipids in obese-induced C57BL/6J mice. After four weeks of the high-fat diet, mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal control (NC) diet, high-fat control (HFC) diet, high-oleate peanut-seed (HOPS) diet, normal-oleate peanut-seed (NOPS) diet, high-oleate peanut-oil (HOPO) diet, and olive-oil (OO) diet. After four weeks, all four experimental diet groups showed significantly lower body weight and epididymal fat weight than HFC group. In four experimental diet groups, serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly lower, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly higher than HFC group. TG was significantly decreased in HOPS group (92.1±1.2 mg/dL) than NOPS group (101.7±5.3 mg/dL, p<0.05). Similarly, LDL-C was significantly lower in HOPS group (66.1±2.8 mg/dL) than NOPS (76.9±1.5 mg/dL, p<0.05), on the other hand, HDL-C indicated a significant elevation in HOPS (50.5±2.1 mg/dL) than NOPS group (45.2±1.6 mg/dL, p<0.05). This result suggests that the consumption of high-oleate peanut has a favorable effect on the plasma lipid profile.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nine times repetitive steaming and drying process Sunsik diets on antioxidant activity in obese mice fed high fat diets to prevent oxidative stress, using drying materials comprising 23 kinds of cereals (61.5%), beans (30.0%), sweet potato and potato (3.0%), fruits (2.0%), vegetables (3.0%), and stevioside, a natural sweetener (0.5%). We produced three samples: the experimental group was classified into the normal diet group (control), the high fat diet group (HF), and the high fat diet group + the Sunsik group (3HFS, 7HFS, 9HFS) fed to the mice for eight weeks. As a result, the serum, liver lipid peroxide, and nitric oxide levels were significantly higher in the HF group than in the C group at p<0.05 level, and the NO level was lower in the Sunsik supplemented groups. The antioxidant enzyme catalase activity significantly decreased in the HF group at the p<0.05 level compared to the C group. The total antioxidant activity of the C group was significantly higher in serum, liver, and kidney tissues than the HF group (p<0.05). The anthocyanin level in liver and spleen tissue was significantly higher in the group fed Sunsik than in the HF group.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common liver disease in industrialized countries. Recently, natural compounds that may be beneficial for improving NAFLD have received increasing attention. Artemisia annua L. is the source of antimalarial phytomolecule, artemisinin, which has been reported to prevent obesity. However, the effect of A. annua extract on hepatic lipid metabolism remains unclear. This study was performed to determine the protective effect of Artemisia annua extract (AAE) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic lipid accumulation, and elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind its effects in vivo and in vitro. We found that HFD-fed mice with AAE administration (50 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks dramatically reduced hepatic lipid accumulation compared to the control mice taken with HFD alone. The body and liver weights of AAE group were significantly lower than those of HFD group, and oral administration of AAE remarkably suppressed the serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), fasting glucose, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in HFD-fed mice. AAE significantly increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the liver of HFD-fed mice and HepG2 hepatocytes. Moreover, AAE downregulated the hepatic expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in HFD-fed mice and high glucose-treated HepG2 cells. In addition, the inhibitory effects of AAE on the overexpression of SREBP-1c and FAS were attenuated by compound C, which is the specific AMPK inhibitor, in high glucose-treated HepG2 cells. These results indicated that AAE may represent a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related NAFLD via the activation of AMPK and the regulation of AMPK-dependent lipogenic genes.